Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

It would be insulting to say that the Corrze dpartement of south-west France was undiscovered. The county has produced not one but two recent French presidents, fields a top-flight rugby team, has world-class strawberries and Limousin beef, great rivers and as much history as it can handle. If youve never heard of it, thats no fault of the locals. Theyve been doing their best for a millennium or two.

And, in places, its worked. The almost unbearably pretty village of Collonges-la-Rouge is discovered by hundreds every day. Canoe-jams on the rivers can turn them into wetter versions of the M25. Plus, next July 9, the Tour de France rolls through the Mondires hills to stop in Jacques Chiracs home village of Sarran. So, no, not really undiscovered but less densely discovered than, say, the next-door Dordogne, with which it shares two rivers, an accent and a taste for duck.

These are rustic surrounds in which, off the few main roads, the lady in the GPS shrugs her shoulders, cattle outnumber people, birds of prey perch on fence-posts and farmers emerge from barns to stare at passing cars. Theyre working, but were on release from quotidian lunacy. We breathe easy and eat well. The landscape both smacks the senses and stiffens the thighs: theres activity here to knock out a marine. And we might bump into Franois Hollande. You need more?

As youll know, the Plus Beaux Villages de France (PBVF) tag is awarded to Frances prettiest villages. Corrze has five way over its fair share of the 159 nationwide and not solely because the PBVF idea originated here, though that doubtless helped. Lovely villages punctuate the landscape, untouched because no-ones built factories or bombed them. Thus, picturesque past prosperity persists in the townscapes, notably from when the viscountcy of Turenne was a semi-independent fiefdom. It had its own money, troops and the wherewithal to dignify villages like the hilltopping Turenne itself, but also Curemonte and Collonges-le-Rouge with castles, town houses and nobility. Collonges also gains from being ruddy of complexion the local stone is reddish and tenaciously preserved. Naturally, it was named the first PBVF in 1982.

The viscountcy lost its footing in the 18th century, when a wastrel scion gambled away the family fortune. The region reverted to the crown. Collonges and the others slumbered, so theyre now in terrific historic nick, well able to supply you with soaps, scarves, novelty mustards and other items which much-visited beauty spots consider vital. In Collonges, the Halle Fermire des Gariotes has formidable regional beer.

Swinging east, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and, upriver, Argentat, recall a time when the Dordogne seethed with trade, flat-bottomed gabares taking wood, cheese and leather down to Bordeaux. Now the gabares take out those tourists not already out in canoes and kayaks and everyones as happy as the sunlit stone surroundings require. The greatest stonework? Stand before the extraordinary Last Judgement tympanum of Beaulieus Abbey Church of St Pierre and consider whether its worth continuing to sin. Then go for a drink on a riverside caf terrace, contemplate the river, the forested hills, the flowers and the folk having fun and stop worrying. Theres time yet for repentance.

Further north, the granite town of Meymac steep slate roofs, narrow streets round the abbey heralds the upland Plateau-de-Millevaches so its a surprise to find a gallery of contemporary art in a wing of the old abbey. Its been there 40 years, and re-opens this year on March 28, with a show of Dutch artists (cacmeymac.fr). Curving west, Treignac and Uzerche rise above the Vzre river. Returning Hundred Years War veterans would still find their way round the vaulted passageways, chapels, towers and fortification walls. Down below, the river meanders into gorges and the traveller arrives in Brive which, though the countys biggest town (pop 46,000) isnt its capital, which rankles locally.

Its a cracking place, with a country market town buzz and, out at the Stade Amede Domenech, first division rugby in the company of CA Brive-Corrze-Limousin. Presently managed by ex-Ireland international, Jeremy Davidson, theyre having a middling time this season, but Brive retains the rolling gait of a proper rugby town. Meanwhile, the Muse Edmond Michelet (centremichelet.brive.fr; free) covers the local French resistance, including Michelets own exploits. Later, youll eat well chez Nicolas Eche at En Cuisine (encuisine.net) or chez Christophe Forget at the Bistro C.Forget by the market.

The you might move up the River Corrze (which gave its name to the county) to Tulle, which though smaller than Brive (pop: 14,000), is county capital. It has also provided France with 50 per cent of its 21st-century presidents. For a place the size of Otley, thats good going. Jacques Chirac was Correzien by birth. Franois Hollande wasnt but, as a young man on the political rise in 1980s Paris, was sent by the Socialist Party to take on Chirac in his, Chiracs, fiefdom. Chirac initially called him Mitterrands Labrador. Over the years, though, Hollande became mayor of Tulle, county council leader and, by general agreement, a Correzien by adoption. He and Chirac ended up on warm terms.

For a start, they frequented the same restaurants. Jean Poumiers Le Central where both held court, though not simultaneously is now gone, as is M.Poumier himself. The Taverne du Sommelier, where both presidents also had their tables about six feet apart, survives and thrives (taverne-du-sommelier.fr). Both men prized conviviality. Hollande celebrated his election with duck pt, beef fillet and potato rissoles. In the Taverne, before illness incapacitated him, Chirac treated a 40th-birthday hen party to kisses all round. Belgians dining nearby were impressed. How clever of them to hire a Chirac lookalike for the occasion, they said.

Elsewhere, Tulle stretches along the river, overseen by hills, a 13th-century cathedral with exceptional cloisters and a medieval quartier which scurries between handsome townhouses. Youll not be long in town before learning that Tulle is the only place in France where they still manufacture accordions (the Nuits de Nacre accordion fest is June 25-28 this year; accordeon.org), used to produce arms and is twinned with Bury. A red telephone box underlines this enviable arrangement. It may take longer to hear that, on June 8, 1944, 99 Tulle men were hung from lamp-posts and balconies by the SS, in reprisal for Resistance activity. A further 149 were deported to Dachau. The memorial, on the former rubbish tip where the bodies were chucked, is on the Brive road out of town.

Back to happiness with a trip up the hill to Gimel-les-Cascades, a fine village whose three waterfalls tumble 500 feet in all, providing beauty and a good walk. Then drive on, but be careful. Not too long ago, Mme Bernadette Chiracs car was in collision, near here, with a deer. She was, thank heavens, unharmed. History doesnt recount what befell the deer. But, if this can happen to her, it can certainly happen to you.

If youre not knackered by nightfall, youre not trying. Corrze is a spot where theres a lot more outdoors than in, and several hundred ways of tackling it, mainly exhausting and often wet. Water is ubiquitous in the rivers and lakes (both natural and man-made), in waterfalls, wetlands, peatbogs and springs all over the place. Overspilling into the north of the county, the 1,300-square-mile Plateau-de-Millevaches has lots of cows but the name refers less to cattle, more to a thousand water sources. These are granite uplands, overseen by the 3,200-feet Mont Bessou (the highest round here), punctuated by the springs, doughty villages and broad-leafed woodland. Theres an extravagance of space on a Mongolian scale, and as much walking, cycling, climbing (in the nearby Mondires hills), hang-gliding and even, Ive heard, archery, as a God-given constitution can handle.

The Vzre and Dordogne rivers supply quite the loveliest of gorges as they flow south, out of the county. Between Treignac and Uzerche, the Vzre goes lively enough for white-water sports. Over east, on the Dordogne between Argentat and Beaulieu, the canoeing, bathing and stand-up paddling are terrific. As is the freshwater fishing throughout a region where, Im guessing, the trout probably assumed they were safe. To the south of Tulle, granite starts to give way to limestone causses, but the roads are no straighter nor the countryside much flatter. You hike, ride or drive up and down and round and round and out of time, and then stop to ask cattle for directions, for theres no-one else about. If you wish to back-pedal into the rest of your life, this is, in short, a fine place to start.

In 1969, Jacques and Bernadette Chirac bought the Chteau de Bity in the tiny village of Sarran (pop 275), north of Tulle. Its persistently claimed that the chteau had provided refuge for Trotsky in the 1930s, when he was on the run from Stalin. He was apparently hosted by a retired British secret services chap, the then chteau owner. Trotsky and Chirac successively in the same castle? Nice story, but untrue: Trotsky was, at the time in question, assigned to residence near Grenoble, before leaving for Norway. You need to know this for, when you pass through these parts, someone will undoubtedly recount this tale. Please stand no nonsense.

So, anyway, Sarran was the Chiracs base which is why it is home to the rather spiffing Jacques Chirac Museum (museepresidentjchirac.fr). On display are hundreds of the gifts Chirac received while president, from cowboy boots from Bill Clinton via a composition of nails and wood-pulp from Gerhard Schrder to native masks perhaps too numerous even for a devoted fan like Chirac. Its fascinating, theres a good little restaurant and its here that stage 12 of the Tour de France will end up on July 9.

Not far away, the ruins of Ventadour chteau, high above the river Luzge gorges, recall Bernart de Ventadour, maybe Frances greatest medieval troubadour. His hit songs of courtly love were favourites of Eleanor of Aquitaine. To the south, the medieval Towers of Merle overlook the Maronne river. There are seven of them, each one belonging to a different seigneur, for reasons too complex to go into. But it remains a hell of a collection to come across in the forested middle of nowhere.

Across the county, at Arnac-Pompadour in deep green countryside apparently shipped in from Ireland, we have the fortress-chteau which Louis XV gave to his mistress. This transformed Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson (or Miss Fish) into the Marquise de Pompadour. Later, the splendid pile became a branch of the French National Stud. It remains (also like Ireland) a hub of horse-driven activities racing through jumping, dressage and equine shows which climax in the Grande Semaine de Pompadour, from September 16-20 this year (pompadour.shf.eu).

To the south, at Varetz, another sulphurous lady, the novelist Colette, is celebrated in gardens dedicated to her memory and to places in which she lived. These included Corrze. She was here first as a young woman in 1911 when she was jolly popular, later in 1940 as war-time refugee, when she was not. Her haughtiness meant people were glad to see the back of her. Her reputation, as the queen of bi-sexuality and a woman who had had affairs with teenagers, certainly caused a stir among the country people. At any event, the gardens are lovely, and contain a great butterfly-shaped maze.

As regards natural landmarks, you need to see the extraordinary Bort organ pipes towering columns of rock, born of a lava flow. They line up over two kilometres. South of Brive, the Gouffre de la Fage is a vast chasm with all the expected cave rock formations, plus 14,000 bats Europes largest colony. It would be good to know how the counting was done.

This is south-west France, so the usual suspects show up on the plate. Foie gras, truffles, nuts, veal, beef lots and lots of Limousin beef lamb and pork, notably from local cul noir (black-bottomed) pigs. Tte-de-veau calf head is also common round here, was allegedly Chiracs favourite dish, but remains a bit squidgy for my taste. Better go with ham with truffles, or freshwater fish, which abound. As, around Beaulieu, do strawberries. Tons of them, all celebrated in the river ports Strawberry Fest on May 10 this year. Last years fest smashed all known strawberry records with an 100-foot-long strawberry cake.

This, the south of the region, is also where the Corrze keeps its vineyards. They arent extensive but the wines are worth seeking, notably those from Branceilles. You might also try the Vin Paill. Grapes are picked and dried (theoretically on straw, or paille) for two months, so the sugars are concentrated. Then they are pressed, fermented and aged, giving wines of a rich sweetness which go jolly well with foie gras.

In Brive, go for the Chteau de Lacan a four star in 17th-century surroundings with lovely grounds (hotelchateaulacan.fr; doubles from 83). North of Tulle, try the Mercure La Seniorie in the village which, like the river and county itself, is called Corrze. Its manor-house stately, with lovely terrace and grounds, a decent restaurant and just beyond, the comely little village. Or try rental accommodation, with tourismecorreze.com/en/rental_properties.html or gites-de-france.com.

Ryanair (ryanair.com) has Wednesday and Saturday flights to Brive from Stansted, from April 1 to October 24, 2020. Or rail it St Pancras to Brive, via Paris, takes around 8h30, with fares from around 158 return (https://en.oui.sncf/en).

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The French region with dramatic landscapes and beautiful villages but hardly any tourists - Telegraph.co.uk

Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles has been awarded the best kitchen designers in LA.

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/14/2020 -- KRLA has been dubbed as the best kitchen designers in LA. From redecorating to remodeling kitchens, professionals from this organization are the best people to handle any such task.

Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles was trying to become the best company in this industry for a long time. After the official news was announced the company expressed their joy through a statement made by board of members. The CEO of this organization stated, "Everyone associated with our company worked hard to reach this spot. Finally being here gives us ample satisfaction."

Also, it was mentioned that this company owe their success to their loyal clients and hardworking professionals who helped in achieving this dream. Moreover, they explained that this is just the start of this company's journey of winning awards and completing accomplishments that was set as goals when it was started.

Since they have become the best Los Angeles kitchen remodel firm, their next goal is to become the best in the entire nation. However, according to various sources, for now they will just enjoy this accomplishment and move slowly towards their next goal.

So, people looking to get their kitchens remodel, knows whom to choose for their work.

About KRLA KRLA is a kitchen remodeling firm in Los Angeles. Recently, they received the award for being the best organization in this business sector.

Media ContactKitchen Remodeling Los Angeles Phone: 310-870-3304Address: 2424 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA-90057Email: info@kitchen-remodeling-los-angeles-ca.comWebsite: http://kitchen-remodeling-los-angeles-ca.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/kitchen-remodeling-los-angeles-won-best-company-award-in-this-industry-1276567.htm

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Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles Won Best Company Award in This Industry - Press Release - Digital Journal

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Don't let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your home's market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when you're ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

1. A CHEF-QUALITY KITCHEN

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

"If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesn't necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000," says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

2. DIY PAINTING

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a home's sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

"A good paint job is not easy," says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. "It is all in the prep work, and most people don't want to do the prep work." Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

3. AN EXPANDED MASTER SUITE

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? "If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal," Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes don't mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, "Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom."

4. PLUSH WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

"In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated."

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

5. A SWIMMING POOL

It doesn't matter if it's infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who don't want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesn't add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If you're thinking resale, it's not worth it you'll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if you'll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

HOW TO DECIDE IF A RENOVATION IS WORTH THE COST

To ensure you're making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. "If you're going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off," Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. "Talk to a professional so you aren't making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years," Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your home's current value and its likely value after the improvements.

___

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Wood is a writer at NerdWallet; email: kwood@nerdwallet.com.

Here is the original post:
Here are 5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Whether youre thinking about a bathroom update, kitchen overhaul or any other type of home improvement project, these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and eLivingtoday.com can help you get started.

Improving your home can be one of the most exciting projects to undertake. Start by setting realistic expectations, determining your goals and needs, finding inspiration and, perhaps most importantly, setting a budget.

You can improve your homes usability and increase its value with bathroom updates or a full renovation. Before you get started, think about these factors: the amount of space and storage you need, features that are important to you, sustainability concerns and accessibility considerations.

The kitchen serves as command-central for most homes and you can get the most enjoyment out of yours by making purposeful changes, reconsidering the physical space, re-evaluating your shopping style and choosing appliances with care.

If its time for a serious undertaking, a full-blown remodel may be necessary (or simply desired). Remodeling typically calls for hiring a professional contractor, a process you can go about by gathering local recommendations, asking for licensing and insurance, checking references and comparing bids.

Find more home improvement ideas and solutions at remodelingdoneright.com and eLivingtoday.com.

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Change up your home interior with these ideas from the remodeling experts - Mountain Democrat

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Dont let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your homes market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when youre ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazines 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesnt necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000, says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a homes sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

A good paint job is not easy, says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. It is all in the prep work, and most people dont want to do the prep work. Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal, Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes dont mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom.

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated.

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

It doesnt matter if its infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who dont want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesnt add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If youre thinking resale, its not worth it youll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if youll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

To ensure youre making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. If youre going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off, Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. Talk to a professional so you arent making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years, Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your homes current value and its likely value after the improvements.

Visit link:
5 home improvements that may not pay off - GazetteNET

You spent the holidays binging on HGTV, and now visions of shiplap accent walls and freestanding soaking tubs are dancing through your head.

Dont let your desire to upgrade your home downgrade your home's market value. Before you make a renovation fantasy a reality, consider whether the project will pay off when you're ready to sell. Plenty of home improvements add value, but others like these five can hurt it.

1. A CHEF-QUALITY KITCHEN

If you love to cook, a high-end kitchen could be the ultimate gift for you. But if you think a massive overhaul will majorly impact resale value, you might be in for a surprise. An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value, according to Remodeling magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report.

"If you do marble countertops and high-end appliances, you could spend $100,000, and it doesn't necessarily mean your house is worth an extra $100,000," says Beatrice de Jong, a consumer trends expert for Opendoor, a San Francisco-based direct home buyer and seller.

Smaller kitchen upgrades could yield a bigger payoff. Chris Arienti, broker and owner of Remax Executive Realty near Boston, suggests keeping updates reasonable: Think granite rather than marble, and GE instead of Sub-Zero.

2. DIY PAINTING

A bold statement wall can say the wrong thing to potential buyers if the workmanship is questionable. Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a home's sale price, according to Opendoor data that looked at home offers made from June 2018 to June 2019.

"A good paint job is not easy," says Sarah Cunningham, a real estate agent with Ethos Design + Remodel in Boise, Idaho. "It is all in the prep work, and most people don't want to do the prep work." Hiring a professional to paint can help ensure a more attractive result.

3. AN EXPANDED MASTER SUITE

Knocking down a wall to create an oversize master bedroom or stealing closet space to build out a spa-style bathroom may sound dreamy. But how about as a selling point? "If you go from five bedrooms to four, and you can make it work, no big deal," Arienti says. But he cautions that losing a bedroom in a smaller house could mean a lower selling price.

As for cutting into closet space, residential building codes don't mandate that bedrooms have closets. But, Arienti says, "Once you take the closet out of a bedroom, to a buyer, that no longer looks like a bedroom."

4. PLUSH WALL-TO-WALL CARPETING

Carpet can be especially unattractive to first-time home buyers, who may be used to landlords updating carpet between renters, de Jong says.

"In general, people are grossed out by (carpeting). It can make a room look a little bit dated."

It can also ding your sale price. Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge, according to Opendoor. Conversely, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors estimated that sellers could recoup the entire cost of refinishing hardwood floors. New wood flooring could actually add value, with sellers getting $1.06 for every dollar spent according to NAR.

5. A SWIMMING POOL

It doesn't matter if it's infinity edge or above-ground: Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who don't want to deal with maintenance or insurance. Even in Florida, a pool doesn't add value, Liede DeValdivielso, a real estate agent with the Keyes Company in Miami-Dade, said via email. If you're thinking resale, it's not worth it you'll never recoup the cost, DeValdivielso said. But if you'll use it and enjoy it, put in a pool.

HOW TO DECIDE IF A RENOVATION IS WORTH THE COST

To ensure youre making an informed decision:

CONSIDER YOUR TIMELINE. "If you're going to be in the home for 30 years, you can do anything, because at that point, your mortgage is paid off," Arienti says. Looking to sell in the near future? Pay closer attention to whether your choices will appeal to a potential buyer.

CONSULT AN EXPERT. "Talk to a professional so you aren't making misinformed choices that are going to work against you in five to 10 years," Cunningham says. A designer can help you tell fleeting trends from future classics; a contractor can explain what kind of work a proposed renovation would entail.

COMPARE HOME FEATURES IN YOUR AREA. De Jong suggests looking at comparable homes for sale near you and going to open houses to make sure your improvements align with the norms for your neighborhood.

GET AN APPRAISAL. A licensed appraiser can do a feasibility study to estimate your home's current value and its likely value after the improvements.

___

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kate Wood is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: kwood@nerdwallet.com.

Link:
5 home improvements that may not pay off when you sell - Minneapolis Star Tribune

By Kerri Westenberg, TNS Published 5:16 p.m. ET Feb. 13, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS When Somia Mourad first walked into the Kenwood home that she would buy, she saw dark-stained oak woodwork mixed with white woodwork on much of the main level. In the kitchen, three different wood finishes fragmented the space.

The house had clearly gone through a ton of renovations, Mourad said. Though the work had been done with care and had been maintained well, she wanted a more cohesive look. So even before she, her husband, Keith Bush, and their two daughters moved into the 1891 three-story, painters were summoned. The fireplace mantel, centerpiece of a gracious living room, went from a dark oak stain to white enameled paint so that it would match the shelves on either side, which were already white. Beams in the ceiling got the same treatment. Wood panels in the dining room, which is open to the living room, also got coats of white paint.

Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. (Dreamstime/TNS) (Photo: Dreamstime, TNS)

Like many of todays home buyers, Mourad and Bush prefer the sleek, clean look of white enameled woodwork. But their experience also speaks to the conundrum of sellers considering whether to paint their woodwork in order to sell a house more quickly. Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. But some homes, especially Craftsmans and Victorians, can dazzle with stained wood.

Mourad said she fell for her house the moment they walked in and saw the wood door that led to an entryway with delicately detailed woodwork.

The entryway was so warm just stunning with intricate carvings on the wood banister at the staircase; I didnt want anyone to touch it, Mourad recalled. She kept that nod to the history of the home, even as the painters set to work on other parts of the house.

Sometimes a home shows best when it remains true to character. The oak beams and other wood accents of Craftsman-style bungalows, for example, help make those homes distinct.

You wouldnt change the color of a classic car, even if its a little funky, and sometimes you shouldnt paint the woodwork of a house, said Ruth Whitney Bowe, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Burnets Minneapolis Lakes office.

Many buyers seek a light, modern aesthetic, but some homes, such as Craftsmans, can dazzle with dark woodwork. (Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)(Photo: Brian Peterson, TNS)

In mid-century modern homes, wood paneling and other details can warm up the clean lines. In Victorians, intricate woodwork can speak to the homes original era and can also be expensive to paint.

In addition to the style of the home, competition is another factor.

If a home is in an area surrounded by other homes with wood cabinets in the kitchens, there may be no need to turn the woodwork white, Bowe said. But most often, white woodwork helps a house sell.

Millennials love white

Jayne Morrison of Morrison Interiors is a designer and stager who helps people ready their homes for the marketplace.

Millennial buyers want white woodwork, she said. If we are staging for a young family in a neighborhood of young families, it is advisable to have woodwork painted white.

Thats especially so for owners of homes built in the 1980s with the golden oak woodwork that was popular during that era.

If you are in a 1980s house and you have a lot of that golden oak woodwork, [painting it white] will help sell your house faster, she said.

Morrison is seeing a generational shift as she works with homeowners on design.

Baby boomers love woodwork, she said. Millennial clients say they want an estimate for painting everything white. It is quite pricey, but often they go ahead and do it. They want that total white woodwork look.

Whether it is sellers or new homeowners hoping to create a space they adore, the decision to paint is often based on that bad word that starts with b: budget, Morrison said. When clients decide to do the painting themselves to save money, she suggests they start in one room and see how it goes before tackling the entire house.

Painted woodwork is a fresh look, she notes, and its been going strong since 2010. In recent years, she has seen the white warming up a bit, shifting to warm gray.

When Mourad got around to remodeling her kitchen and ridding the space of three different wood finishes, in fact, a designer suggested that she paint the center island gray to contrast with the white paint elsewhere in the kitchen and the home. Mourad declined, preferring to keep the look cohesive. Plus, she said, I knew I would never tire of white.

And she hasnt. Now when I walk into the house, I feel peaceful, uplifted, happy. There is a lightness and a calm, she said. It is amazing how much woodwork impacts the feel of a home.

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The lack of snow this winter season has been frustrating for companies that make good money removing it.

Its been slow. Today is the slowest winter in the last six years Id say, said Joseph Mandell, owner of Better Lawns & Beyond.

Mandell says usually his crew of six jumps in their trucks when the snow starts to fall and they plow properties all over western Connecticut, from Danbury to Torrington to Canton.

This winter has been busy with work, though not when itcomes to clearing snow.

We do asphalt repair due to peoples driveways get deteriorated.So we will do asphalt patching and repair. Fire pits. Even since the weatherhas been, hasnt been snowing as much we can do cleanups, gutter cleaning. Evendone power washing this winter, said Mandell.

So far this season the NBC Connecticut First Alert meteorologistsreport weve received 25.4 inches of snow, though most of that was in December.

Thats 9 inches below normal.

And with five more weeks until winter is officially over,some are hoping for a change in the weather pattern.

That would be nice if it started snowing more wed be happy.It gives us more consistency. Its either that or if it goes away Id be evenmore happier if the sun came out and we could get into more cleanups and planting,said Mandell.

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SEVEN HILLS, Ohio -- Residents on John Glenn Drive this week will receive hand-delivered notices from Lake County Sewer Co. regarding the start of the sewer rehabilitation project.

The project involves the installation of hydraulic seals and a pipe liner, as well as a cleaning and grouting of 33 laterals in the neighborhood from the storm main in the right-away up to the clean-out, which is near the private property line, City Engineer Daniel J. Collins said.

Were putting a grouted liner on the inside to make sure no stormwater gets in. It basically rehabilitates the storm line. Were not going all the way to the house, because the residents already took care of that themselves.

Initially estimated at $143,000, the bid was awarded to Lake County Sewer Co. for $150,643. The city is paying for the project out of its sewer maintenance fund.

The Willowick-based operation will be working -- weather contingent -- for the next few months. The upcoming project involves 44 homes on the street. Residents will be notified during various stages of work.

The John Glenn Drive sewer rehabilitation project is the result of the city hiring outside consultant AECOM to study public and private sanitary sewers using flow monitors within the sanitary sewer system and performing various smoke- and dye-testing procedures.

The testing revealed that 27 homes on John Glenn Drive had gutter/downspout and/or foundation drains that were infiltrating into the public sanitary sewer main.

We found out that the sanitary sewers on John Glenn Drive were getting a lot of I/I -- inflow and infiltration -- into these sewer lines, which is rainwater, Collins said. Sanitary sewers are not designed to handle rainwater. Theyre designed to simply handle sanitary sewage.

What that does when rain gets in there is over capacitates the sewer, causing backups into houses and basements. What this project will do is basically seal up these sanitary sewers, preventing any rainwater from getting into the sewer.

While Seven Hills was previously unsuccessful in obtaining Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) funds through the Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP) for the John Glenn project, city officials are hopeful grant money will be available for similar work coming to East Ridgewood Drive and Bayberry Drive.

AECOM is currently wrapping up a study of the area, Collins said. Afterwards, were going to be seeking 2021 MCIP funding. What we were told from the sewer district at our interview meeting was that they actually may even assist us with some additional information theyve studied in this area. Thats good, because they know were being proactive on correcting our I/I issues in the city. So were crossing our fingers about funding.

Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta added, Were cautiously optimistic.

The city expects the East Ridgewood Drive and Bayberry Drive sewer rehabilitation project to take place in 2021.

The city is methodically going into areas weve had reported problems, Biasiotta said. Well continue working down the list as we complete one project and move into the next.

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DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) Hyun-Jin Ryu is now the clear ace of a major league rotation with all the pressure and responsibility that comes with that.

We win games by having all the players put in their efforts, Ryu said through a translator Thursday. At the same time, I do realize the expectation and the weight that comes with this kind of contract and what the Blue Jays wanted, and I know exactly what the Blue Jays want from me.

What Toronto needs is some stability in its rotation. The Blue Jays used 21 different starters last year, then made several additions in the offseason. Ryu was the most prominent acquisition, signing a four-year, $80 million contract after finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award vote with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ryu was the only NL pitcher to receive a first-place vote for the Cy Young besides winner Jacob deGrom, but pitching in Los Angeles, it was easy for the left-hander to be overshadowed by the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Ryu went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA last season but made only one appearance for the Dodgers in their five-game loss to Washington in the Division Series.

Now Ryu is with a Toronto team that lost 95 games in 2019, but this is a chance for the South Korean standout to show he can remain among baseballs elite starters.

Ryu, who turns 33 next month, began his recent ascent in earnest during the 2018 season, when he went 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts. He was limited by groin problems that year, and he accepted a $17.9 million qualifying offer to stay with Los Angeles for 2019.

Last year, he made 29 starts and pitched 182 2/3 innings, his highest totals since 2013. He allowed only three runs in the entire month of May and still had an ERA under 2.00 in mid-August.

Having answered at least some questions about his durability, Ryu says hes trying to prepare for this season by repeating whats worked in the past.

Im getting ready for the season gradually and not really forcing things, he said Thursday, after the Blue Jays held their first workout for pitchers and catchers. Making sure that my bodys ready to maintain certain type of workloads. I think I was able to do that pretty well, so Im trying to do the same for this year.

Torontos staff also includes several other new additions. Right-handers Tanner Roark and Shun Yamaguchi signed for two years, and the Blue Jays acquired right-hander Chase Anderson in a trade. An improved rotation could pay major dividends for a team that has plenty of young position players to be excited about.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesnt even turn 21 until next month, and fellow infielders Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio got good experience last season as well. Ryu gives Toronto a proven veteran on the pitching side.

I was really excited when we got him, of course, manager Charlie Montoyo said. He was one of the best pitchers last year in baseball. When we got him, I was excited. We got an ace.

So the Blue Jays are clear about their hopes for Ryu, who has pitched like an ace for much of the past two seasons. He might downplay the importance of that distinction a bit, but hes aware of the expectations.

On any given night, he said, going out on the mound and putting the team in a position where they can win.

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